Arby’s, Red Lobster Refute Any Plans To Offer Plant-Based Foods

There
are several fast-food places that have begun adding plant-based
items, such as seafood, to cater to those who want them. White Castle
and Burger King are just two of the many that have added plant-based
foods to their menu. However, two restaurants have opted to never add
such products to their menu.

Arby’s
and Red Lobster have no plans to incorporate such food.

Kim
Lopdrup, Red Lobster CEO, has expressed his disdain for plant-based
seafood, often calling it terrible. He’s fine with healthy eating
and is happy that other companies are making the move toward it. He
said plant-based food is certainly far healthier than red meat, but
it doesn’t trump seafood. Red Lobster offers high-quality seafood
that is very healthy, tasty and good for the body.

Lopdrup
said there’s not been one plant-based seafood item they’d yet
seen that they’d want to include on the menu.

Another
Red Lobster spokesperson noted a study from Harvard University that
noted fish’ health benefits outweigh any potential dangers such as
accidental consumption of mercury or carcinogens.

Arby’s
is going a step further in coming out with meat-based vegetables. In
the video posted on their website in July, the company showed up a
creation they came up with: carrots comprised of turkey breast. The
video, which lasts nearly 60 seconds, and called “The Marrot”
opened with the following line:

“If
they can make meat from veggies and other stuff, we can make veggies
from meat.”

The
video goes on to show turkey breast being sliced and rolled into a
carrot shape in cheesecloth. The chef then cooks the meat
sous-vide-style and places the food in a vacuum-sealed bag before
it’s rolled into pieces through specially-dried carrot juice powder
and roasted.

Instead
of the usual, “We have the meats” slogan, the video ends with the
following, “We have the Megetables.”

Arby’s
Chief Marketing Officer Jim Taylor said plant-based meats is just a
ploy in creating vegetables to look like the one thing Americans do
crave: meat. He said most people understand, they are supposed to
consume vegetables daily, but 90 percent of Americans fail to do so.
Taylor said if people can make meat from vegetables, why can’t meat
make vegetables?

In
Arby’s spokesperson said, back in May, the company would not be
working with Impossible Foods to come up with a plant-based meat
product for the fast-food restaurant’s menu. According to the
spokesperson, Arby’s isn’t interested in the collaboration, and
are dedicated to offering meat. The spokesperson went on to say that
Arby’s earned the respect it has for doing things differently than
others in the industry.

Arby’s
began in 1964 with a $0.69 premium roast beef sandwich while others
were offering $0.15 hamburgers. Although Arby’s has been watching
every other company around them offer plant-based meats, the company
is well-known for bucking the trends. The spokesperson said the
chances for Arby’s to offer any plant-based protein on its menu is
next to zilch.

Rob
Lynch, president of Arby’s, was shocked about the plant-based meat
items rumors and said it would never happen while he was in charge.
Lynch said Arby’s brand is all about creating huge, high-quality,
meaty sandwiches. If he did happen, it would be after he left
(voluntarily or fired).

MarketsandMarkets
research firm said the worldwide market for meat alternatives is
likely to grow to $6.4 billion by 2023. In 2018, the market hit $4.6
billion.